Combined school desk and chair.



Patented Aug. 6, I901.

H. W. WELLES.-

COMBINED SCHOOL DESK AND CHAIR.

(Application filed Oct. 22, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

vwemtoz Ski 0124a No. 679,806. Patented Au 6, l90l H. W.,WELLES.

COMBINED SOHOOL DESK ANO CHAIR.

(Application filed Oct. 22, 1900.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD W. WELLES, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO ISAAC l/V. $HERRILL, OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINED SCHOOL DESK AND CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 679,806, dated August 6, 1901.

Application filed Catcher 22,1900. Serial No. 33,941- (No model.)

T0 00% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD W. WELLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in a Combined School Desk and Chair, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a combined school desk and chair.

The objects of the invention are to provide simple and effective locking means whereby the desk and chair may be quickly and conveniently adjusted in a vertical plane and secured against movement, to simplify and improve the construction and increase the prac tical efficiency of the desk-frame and coop crating parts, and to provide means for exerting a frictional action or force to hold the hinged desk-top in either of its adjusted positions.

With these and minor objects in View the invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side View of the combined school desk and chair, showing in full lines the parts adjusted for usethat is, the seatlowered and the hinged top of the desk arranged in a writing positionand in dotted lines the chair-seat swung rearwardly'against the back section and the hinged top swung forwardly to serve as a book rest or support. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view' through the base, desk, and chair. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the base. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View thereof. Fig. 5 is a similar view taken at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 4.. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on lineman, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a front elevation ofthe chair-supporting frame or standard. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the hinge members of the desk-top. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view through the desk-top and book-support, taken through the hinged members. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view through the book-support. Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional View on line y y, Fig. 1. V Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional View on line to 10, same figure. Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional View through one of the end frames and desk-topsupporting arms and parts thereto attached. Fig. 14 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View through a standard and stem, showing the position of the stem and the locking-dog when the stem is in the act of being lowered.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the base of the chair, which is preferably bell-shaped and has projecting upwardly therefrom and pref- 6o erably cast integral therewith chair and desk standards 2 and 3, respectively,which are hollow and are provided with one or more guidespiders at and are designed to receive chair and desk supporting stems 5 and 6, respec- 65.

tively, which incross-section correspond in contour to the spiders, but do not fit the same so snugly as to prevent them from having a slight forward and backward rocking movement. Each of the standards is provided with a locking-dog chamber 7, adapted to receive a locking-dog 8, which in the present instance is shown in the form of a ball or sphere. This chamber is open at the top and is provided at its lower end with a stop 9,

with which the dog engages when it is in locked position with the stem. The inner wall of the chamber above the stop inclines slightly, as shown at 9, and above this inclined wall is a shelf or odset 10, upon which the dog is adapted to be supported in the act of adjusting the stem. The side walls of the chamber converge from their inner to their outer edges, and the space between the outer edges of these side walls is less than the di- 8 ameter of the dogs, so that said dogs will. be prevented from falling out of the chambers into the bores of the standards with which said chambers communicatefl The stems 5 and 6 of the chair and desk are each pro- 0 vided with a Vertical row of dog-seats 11,with which the dogs coact. These dog-seats in each instance are preferably formed in the face of a vertical rib 12, formed on the stem and projecting into the chamber. One or 5 more set-screws 13 may be tapped into each standard for the purpose of locking the stem in position to prevent the scholars from changing the adjustment of the parts. When it is desired to adjust the chairor desk to an ele- 1oo vated position, it is grasped and moved upwardly and in a true vertical direction. In

- the book-rack c this upward movement of the stem the dog is slightly elevated in its chamber and slides against the inclined inner wall thereof, so as to disengage itself from the dog-seats and not interfere with the upward movement of the stem. The instant the upward movement ofthe stem ceases the dog falls back in one of its seats in the stern and locks said stem against downward movement.

Now assuming that it be desired to lower the stem, it is first moved upwardly a slight distance, so as to elevate the dog and place it upon the offset or shelf, and the upper end of the stem is then leaned inwardly toward the center of the base and in this position is lowered the desired distance. Then by righting the stem to true vertical position the dog rolls off said shelf or abutment down the inclined inner wall of the chamber and engages the lowermost dog-seat of the stem in said chamber and locks the stem against further downward movement. To prevent the scholars from changing the adjustment, the set screw or screws may now be tightened against the stems, thus securely lockin g them in place against adj ustment in either direction, as well as preventing any rattling of the stems in their standards.

The chair referred to consists of a folding seat A and a hinged back B. The seat is provided with lugs a, which are pivoted by a bolt or rodot to lugs a, formed at the ends of a cross-head a cast integral with=the chairsupporting stem, said bolt passing through the two sets of lugs and being provided with nuts a. The back B is provided on its rear face with lugs b, which are pivoted by a bolt 17' to an arm 6 which projects upwardly from and is preferably cast integral with the cross head.

The desk hereinbefore referred. to consists of the end pieces 0, provided with top-supporting arms 0, the top 0 0 the back 0 and The back is preferably in the form of a board and is provided on its inner side with dovetailed grooves 0 open at their lower ends and closed at their upper ends, to take a dovetailed rib 0 formed on the outer face of the forward vertical bar of the frame. on its lower side near its ends with dovetailed grooves 0 which are adapted to take dovetailed ribs formed at the upper ends ofthe frame. The bottom 0 of the book-rack has formed in its upper surface dovetailed grooves 0 which are adapted to engage dovetailed ribs c formed on the lower cross piece or frame, and the front 0 of the book-rack is provided with dovetailed recesses 0 in its inner side near its ends, which receive dovetailed ribs 0 formed on the inner vertical pieces of the frame.

In assembling the parts the front of the book-rack is first secured in place, then the bottom of the book-rack is secured in place, then the back of the desk is securedin place, and finally the section a of the desk-top is The part c of the top is pr'ovided secured in place. The abutting ends or siir= faces of these parts are then fastened together by screws or like fastening means, and the desk is then secured to a cross-head f projecting upwardly and preferably cast integral with the chair-supporting stem,the cross-head having a vertical arm formed with a dovetailed rib which fits a corresponding dovetailed groove made in the face or the front of the book-rack 0 thus serving to center the desk in its connection with its supportingstem. A screw or other fastening device is then inserted through the upper end of this arm and screws or other fastening devices in serted through the ends of said cross head.

By this construction I produce a knockdown school=desk which may be shipped with. its parts disconnected and bundled up into a small compass and which may be readily set up for use after it has reached its destination. To the top-supporting arm a, hereinbefore referred to, is hinged to swing the section 0 of the desk-top. This section is provided on its under side with fastening-plates D, which are provided with perforated ears (1 and with sockets 01 open at their upper ends. These platesare dovetailed in cross-section and fit in dovetailed recesses formed in the back of the-section c of the desk-top and are held in place by screws or other fastening means inserted at the ends of said plates. I Abook-support E in the form of a slat or any other desired construction is provided with a longitudinal groove or recess e and has its ends seated in said sockets. When in this position, the plates may be attached to the under side of the section a of the top. A bolt or rod F extends through the outer ends of the arms 0 and through the longitudinal groove or recess in the book-support and is provided at its ends with clampingnuts f for varying the friction between the lugs and the upper ends of the arms, which constitute the hinge-joint and for taking up wear between these parts, so that the desired amount of friction may be always maintained between the two parts, thus preventing the section 0 of the desk-top from being swung either up or down with a jar or slam. When the section 0 is swung in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, it may be used asa desk, and when swung in the position shown in dotted lines in the same figure it may be used as a shelf or book-support. The meeting or adjacent edges of the sections 0' o of the desk-top are beveled, as shown, this being done for obvious reasons. These edges are adapted to come together when the section 0 of the top is in horizontal position and to form a neat smooth joint. The constant rubbing of these edges would soon cause them to wear and would cause the edge of the section a to break joint with the edge of the section 0 To overcome this, I'provide positive stops,.which when the surfaces of the sections 0 c are flush act to prevent the inner edge of the section o"riding above the inner IIO edge of the section 0 Any desired form of stops may be employed, but those shown are preferred, and consist of forming the plates D with an extension f and forming the upper cross-pieces of the desk-frame with an extension f the meeting ends of both extensions being beveled. It will therefore be seen that when the desk is swung down into horizontal position the free ends of these extensions will abut or strike each other and prevent the section cof the desk-top breaking joint with the section 0 thereof. When the desktop is swung up, I prefer to limit its upward movement and prevent it coming in contact with the fixed section 0 of the top, thus preventing the hands of the scholars from becoming caught and pinched between the two parts. Any suitable means may be provided for accomplishing this, and a simple and convenient one is shown in the drawings and consists in providing the upper ends of the arms a with stop-lugs f which are adapted to abut against the back of the section 0 when it has reached the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which position it will be noticed that an intervening space is left between the upper surface of the section 0' and the edge of the section 0 From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of my invention will be readily understood without requiring an extended explanation. The device is exceedingly useful for the purpose for which it is designed and may be placed upon the market at a comparatively small cost.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a supporting-base and a hollow standard having dog-seats, of a stem, the construction of said standard being such as to permit of a rocking and vertical, non-rotary movement of the stem within the standard, and a movable dog adapted to move from one seat to the other and to lock the stem in adjusted position, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a supporting-base provided with a hollow standard, of a stem having dog-seats, the construction of said hollow standard being such as to permit of a rocking and vertical, non-rotary movement of the stem within the standard, said standard being provided with a dog-chamber having a stop at its lower end and a shoulder or offset near its upper end, the Wall of said chamber between the stop and the offset or shoulder beinginclined, and adog looatedin said chamber and adapted to engage said seats and lock the stem in adjusted posit-ion, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with a supporting-base, provided with a hollow standard, of a stem, the construction of said hollow standard being such as to permit of a rocking and vertical,- non-rotary movement of the stem within the standard, said standard being provided with a dog-chamber which communicates with the hollow bore of the standard and is provided with an inclined wall, the said cham ber having at its lower end a stop and at its upper end an inclined shoulder or offset, said stem being provided with a longitudinal rib which travels within the dog-chamber and is provided with dog seats, and a dog located in said chamber and adapted to engage said seats and hold the stem in adjusted position, substantially as set forth.

4. A supporting bell-shaped base having hollow standards projecting upwardly therefrom at diametrically opposite points from its center and adapted to receive adjustable stems for supporting a desk and chair, sub stantially as set forth.

5. In a desk the combination with the metal supporting-arms, of a desk-top, lugs secured to the under side of the desk-top and adapted to lie between and engage the extremities of said arms and provided with sockets, a longitudinally recessed or grooved book-support having its ends seated in said sockets, and a rod passed through said lugs, arms, and the groove of said book-support, and provided with tightening means at its ends, substantially as set forth.

6. In a desk, the combination with the metal supporting-arms, of a desk-top, lugs secured to the under side of the desk-top and adapted to lie between and engage theextremities of said arms, a book-support located between said lugs, a rod passed through said lugs and arm extremities and provided with tightening-nuts for clamping said arms and extremities together and said book-support in place, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOWVARD VVELLES.

Witnesses:

WM. F. Boo'rn, IRVING ELTING. 

